Hudson performing arts school celebrates grand opening

Sunday

Oct 21, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 21, 2012 at 9:04 PM

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) marked the grand opening of the school’s new satellite facility in downtown Hudson with a celebration featuring a reception, live music and performances by FSPA students and faculty.

Staff reports

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) marked the grand opening of the school’s new satellite facility in downtown Hudson with a Sept. 28 celebration featuring a reception, live music and performances by FSPA students and faculty.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighted the evening, as Raye Lynn Mercer, FSPA founder and director, was joined onstage by Sarah Cressy, president and CEO of the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce, state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, state Rep. Kate Hogan, and James Quinn and Francis Maslowski of the Odd Fellows organization. The ribbon cutting followed remarks by Cressy and Eldridge, who read a citation on behalf of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

The chamber co-hosted the grand opening celebration. Alan Mercer, FSPA director of business development, helped to emcee the festivities.

The evening’s performances featured the 2013 season debut of Electric Youth (EY). An international touring ensemble of young singer-dancers trained at FSPA, EY entertained the enthusiastic audience with high-energy performances of "Transylvania Mania" from “Young Frankenstein,” "Feeling Good" from “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd,” and Aretha Franklin's "Think" and "Respect." EY was backed by its eight-piece band of professional musicians.

Students from FSPA's Ballet Conservatory program danced the Strauss Waltz, choreographed by FSPA ballet mistress Cheryl Madeux Abbott. Young musical theater students performed "Happiness" from “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Guests also were treated to two performances by FSPA faculty. Hallie Wetzell, pro voice director, sang "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's opera “Gianni Schicchi,” and Nick Paone, instructor of musical theater and drama, performed selections from “Avenue Q” and “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

FSPA-Hudson brings performing arts classes in music, dance and drama to the historic Odd Fellows Building, located at 14 Main St. As FSPA begins its 28th season, the satellite facility represents the newest chapter in the school’s innovative history and extends FSPA’s reach to an additional 25 towns, expanding upon the 50 local communities currently represented by the student enrollment in Franklin. Programs are available to students of all ages and levels of ability, whether for recreational interest or serious study, according to the school.

Fall registration is ongoing for all programs, with tuition pro-rated. Prospective students are invited to try a complimentary class. For more information or to receive a course catalogue, call 508-528-8668 or visit fspaonline.com.